Apparatus for changing into and out of suits associated with cold water activities

ABSTRACT

A portable interactive changing pod for the changing into and out of suits used in or in association with cold water activities. Embodiment is of non see thru, light weight textile, trapezoidal in shape, open at the top with an enclosed flexible rubber base. The body of the enclosure is opened/closed through a draw cord waist and rests upon the users hips, openings located on either side of the enclosure allow the user to quickly and easily disrobe and exchange clothing. Covering the inside of the opening is a flap providing additional privacy, a transparent vinyl window just below the knees provides additional safety and control when changing. The bottom of the enclosure wall is of a durable material that transitions into a flexible rubber base enclosing the lower half of the users body. The flexible rubber base along with the stretchable material below the vinyl window is made to interact with the users physical movements required to pull legs out of suits such as but not limited to wetsuits used for surfing, diving suits, drysuits, survival suits, swim suits, and protect such suits from damage and soiling.

REFERENCES CITED U.S. Patent Documents

6,760,921 July 2004 Simmons 2/84 5,611,083 March 1997 Arnold 2/84*471,373 December 2007 Dumoulin 2/69 0,179,132 April 2001 Gutierrez135/117 *0,017,000 July 2006 Segal 2/69 0,044,606 July 2004 Frazier002069000

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention related in general to collapsible cubicle devicesproviding privacy while changing clothes outdoors and in public. Thisinvention lies in the field of portable enclosures for changing clothesand directed to such device which may be opened and closed quickly forstorage and transportation. It is more particularly directed to portablechanging tent which may be opened/closed very quickly with no need forspecial skills or manual dexterity and which is sufficiently rigid forgeneral use in public.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Many of the portable changing enclosures invented are open on the bottomand have a plurality of members which must be secured together with manyfasteners requiring more time and dexterity to assemble. They providelimited privacy, are impractical, and offer no protection from thedebris and rugged terrain that will damage suits worn in associationwith cold water activities.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The principal objective of the invention to provide a wearable enclosurethat provides privacy while changing in to and out of suits worn inassociation with cold water activities.

Another objective is to provide a stable and protective surface tochange upon preventing damage and soiling of suits.

It is also an objective of the present invention that it interact withthe users physical movements required to disrobe from suits worn inassociation with cold water activities.

A further objective of the invention is that it be made in the US andthat it be partially comprised of recycled materials.

Still a further objective is to provide such a device in non see thru,lightweight textile, easy to use, and easily stored in devices such asbut not limited to backpacks and duffle bags.

From forgoing general description of the invention achieves, as animportant objective, said invention is made in a range of sizes for bothsexes each size large enough to allow the user to change freely andsafely.

The forgoing objects can be accomplished by providing a device thatcombines a half length trapezoidal, non see thru, light weight textilecomprised of two side panels, a front panel, a rear panel, stitchedtogether, and a durable material along the bottom of the enclosure wallminimizing damage. The top portion has an opening with a draw cord waistthat rests upon the hips when tightened. Once the user is standing uponthe flexible rubber base the enclosure wall is easily pulled up and overthe users hips. Two openings located on either side of the enclosurewall from the upper thigh down below the knee allow the user to disrobeand exchange clothing, a privacy flap open on one side attached by ahook and loop fastener covers the opening on the inside, a transparentvinyl window just below the knees provides additional safety and controlwhen changing. The bottom of the enclosure wall is adhered to a flexiblerubber base enclosing the user from the waist down. The bottom of theflexible rubber base is textured adding traction, the top of theflexible rubber base has a 5 mil. thick textured neoprene mattprotecting suits from damage and providing additional traction andcomfort when changing. The flexible rubber base interacts with the usersphysical movements required to disrobe.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

-   -   1. an enclosure wall    -   2. a wall    -   3. a top opening    -   4. an enclosed flexible rubber base    -   5. a front panel    -   6. a side panel    -   7. stitching    -   8. a stretchable material    -   9. a transparent vinyl window    -   10. draw cord waist    -   11. openings in side panels    -   12. privacy flap    -   13. open side of wind flap    -   14. a hook and loop fastener    -   15. opening in side panel    -   22. bottom of enclosure wall    -   23. textured bottom of flexible rubber base    -   24.    -   25. textured neoprene rubber matt    -   26. rubber channel    -   27. interactive flexible rubber base    -   28. a and b of users physical posture

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an axonometric projection of an enclosure accordingto an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the functional condition of an enclosure as itinteracts with the physical movements of the user according to anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of an enclosure and an interior coveredopening according to the embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates an partial axonometric projection of an enclosure andan interior covered opening in its functional condition according to theembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a axonometric projection of an enclosure and flexiblerubber base according to an embodiment of the invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The following detailed description represents the best currentlycontemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is notto be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose ofillustrating the general principals of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, an enclosure (1) that may be portable and easilyused may be of generally trapezoidal form having a wall (2), an open top(3), and an enclosed flexible rubber base (4). The wall (2) may be madeof lightweight, non see through textile cut into four panels; a frontand back (5), and two sides (6) sewn (7). All four panels (5,6) taper atthe top forming an opening (3) for the waist.

As shown in FIG. 1,3,4 there may be a draw cord waist that whentightened allows the enclosure to rest upon the users hips.

There may be openings (11) cut and hemmed down the center of each sidepanel (6) as shown in FIGS. 1,3, and 4 from the upper thigh down belowthe knee. On the inside of the enclosure wall over the opening (11) maybe a privacy flap (12) which may be sewn to a wall on three sides andwhich may be open down the side (13) facing the front of the enclosurewall that may be closed by a hook and loop fastener (14).

As shown in FIGS. 1,5, there may be a transparent vinyl window (9)positioned below the knees across the front wall which may be sewn (7).

As shown in FIG. 5, there may be a stretchable material (8) below avinyl window (9) that may transition into a durable material at thebottom of the enclosure wall (22) which is enclosed by a flexible rubberbase (4) with a textured bottom (23) which may be attached to theenclosure wall by high strength adhesive. Upon the top of the flexiblerubber base (4) may be a 5 millimeter thick rubber neoprene texturedmatt (25) which may be adhered to the flexible rubber base. As shown inFIG. 5, there may be a two inch wide rubber channel (26) adhered alongthe perimeter of an interior edge between the bottom of the enclosurewall (22) and a neoprene rubber matt (25) which may include a weep hole(27) in one corner.

Referring to FIG. 2, the embodiment of invention (1) which may be ofgenerally trapezoidal form having a wall (2), an open top (3), and aclosed base (4) as shown in FIG. 1 which may be enclosed by a flexiblerubber base (4) with a textured bottom (23) having a 5 millimeter thicktextured neoprene rubber matt (25) upon the inside as shown in FIG. 5interacts (28) with the users physical movements (29 a,29 b, 29 c)required to disrobe.

1. A portable interactive changing pod for changing into and out ofsuits used in or in association with cold water activities made of lightweight, non see thru textile, open top, and an enclosed flexible rubberbase. The top of the enclosure wall contains a draw cord waist and restsupon the users hips when tightened. The enclosure wall is of a generallytrapezoidal shape incorporating an opening on either side covered on theinside of the enclosure wall by a privacy flap, a flexible vinyl window,a stretchable material, and a durable material at the bottom of theenclosure wall, all of which is enclosed by a flexible rubber base, iseasily stored and convenient for traveling in remote locations.
 2. Thedevice as in claim 1 wherein the trapezoidal enclosure is made from alight weight, non see thru textile comprised of four panels stitchedtogether.
 3. The device as in claim 2 wherein the said invention has adraw cord waist when tightened rests upon the users hips.
 4. The deviceas in claim 3 wherein the said invention has an opening on either sideof the enclosure wall from the upper thigh down below the knee to easilydisrobe and exchange clothing.
 5. The device as in claim 4 wherein saidinvention incorporates a privacy flap open on one side attached by ahook and loop fastener which covers the said opening as in claim 4 onthe inside of the enclosure wall.
 6. The device as in claim 2 whereinthe said invention incorporates a flexible transparent vinyl windowbelow the knees providing additional control and safety when changing.7. The device as in claim 1 wherein the said invention incorporates astretchable material that interacts with the users physical movementsrequired to pull legs out of suits.
 8. The device as in claim 1 whereinthe bottom of the enclosure wall is adhered to a flexible rubber base.9. The device as in claim 8 wherein the said invention is adhered to theflexible rubber base protecting suits from damage and soiling and has atextured bottom providing traction when changing upon irregularsurfaces.
 10. The device as in claim 9 wherein the enclosed flexiblerubber base of the said invention interacts with the users physicalmovements by lifting with the leg regardless of which leg is used. 11.The device as in claim 10 wherein the enclosed flexible rubber base ofthe said invention has a 5 mil textured neoprene rubber changing matt onthe interior of the said invention.
 12. The device as in claim 11wherein the enclosed flexible rubber base of the said invention has athin two inch wide rubber channel connecting the device as in claim 8 tothe device as said in claim 9 preventing water and debris from damagingchanging matt.
 13. The device as in claim 12 wherein the enclosedflexible rubber base of the said invention incorporates a weep hole inone corner as the device as in claim 11 allowing water from suits toescape.
 14. The device as in claim 1 wherein the said invention is madeto fit male and female users from toddlers through adult sizes by meansof a range of sizes.
 15. The device as in claim 1 wherein the saidinvention is easily rolled up and inserted into a light weight, waterresistant carrying bag. 16-52. (canceled)